Warriors give back to New Orleans

The University of Hawai‘i Warrior football team will play in the biggest game in the school’s history Tuesday when they take on the Bulldogs of Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Since the Warriors arrived in New Orleans last week, they’ve taken in the sites, tasted the local fare and have practiced in an NFL indoor practice facility.

But the Warriors also know that the trip is not all about the game. After an early morning workout, approximately a dozen of the Warriors, the athlete’s wives and the football coaches took the time to visit a local hospital after practice yesterday.

Warrior head coach June Jones, wide receiver Michael Washington, linebacker Jared Lene and others gave patients at the West Jefferson Medical Center green, foam hand shakas to wear, autographed posters and other memorabilia.

Visiting hospitals is sort a tradition for bowl-bound college teams.

Georgia visited the neighboring Children’s Hospital on Friday.

Fellow Western Athletic Conference team Fresno State visited the Children’s Hospital in central California prior to leaving for Idaho for the Humanitarian Bowl.

Boise State visited the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children when they were in Honolulu for the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl.

Tomorrow, the team head to the Louisiana Superdome for its final walkthrough before Tuesday’s game at 3:30 HST, broadcast on FOX.